BE, THINK, KNOW - NOW
  • Blog Posts
  • Book Nook
  • My professional site

Managing an online Community Forum: A short guide

11/11/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Some simple, strait forward advice on how to manage a Community Forum.
My background and a little about me: I am a community manager who currently runs a community forum with over 500,000 users. I learn something new everyday and will be sure to update this list accordingly. 
  • Be consistent: messaging, tone and what you put up with (and what type of behavior you encourage)
  • Don't put up with anything negative, or that is uncomfortable. Life's too short. Read more in my other post on how to deal with toxic community members. 
  • Be in your community EVERYDAY. You need to be in the action and get a pulse reading. It can change quick and you need to be there to put out any fires that may arise. And I PROMISE you, they will. It's guaranteed.
  • Speaking of fires, you need to have an escape plan ahead of time! You need to make sure you have options, a "grab bag", know where your nearest exit is and what you will do. Make sure you know exactly where the line is and your limit, because sometimes you need to act quickly. 
  • Be prompt. Make decisions quickly.
  • Be very visible in your community and vocal around what you want to see/the type of interaction. You are the architect, you need to foster the culture. Be the example and exemplify the type of community member you wish to attract. 
  • Make sure your community members know that you are approachable and they have your ear. Be there for them, and be accessible. 
  • Go out of your way to put out any small flames that arise. Even if there are signs of a fire and no smoke yet. 
  • Pay attention. Especially to behavior trends. If it gets to the point where you need to kick someone out of your community, you need to have a credible and reliable list of tangible behaviors and actions to point to. 
  • Be compassionate. Even if someone swears at you or makes a scene, give them the benefit of the doubt and try to wade through the ego. When you show you care, and will listen to their side, sometimes the walls come down and they do change (and even apologize!)
  • Create a reward system. Those who embody the essence of your community and who are active participants deserve a whole lot. Make sure you have digital and tangible reward and recognition systems such as: Threads dedicated to your best as a way to introduce themselves and highlight them, badges, swag, perks...etc.
  • Use a REAL picture, and encourage all of your moderators, admins and other staff to do so as well. Sometimes, it's easy to forget that there is a person behind the computer screen.


Image from: http://www.andreaposada.com/

0 Comments

We are excited...

11/11/2015

0 Comments

 
 There is a phrase that everyone is guilty of using....

"We are excited..."

Please, for the love of readers everywhere, DO NOT use this phrase anymore! 
​
Picture

Still need convincing, or just want to have a laugh? Check out this Tumblr, dedicated to the companies and people who obviously, are very excited. Too excited for their own good?
0 Comments

    Alexandra Bowen

    An assortment of posts related to the unquenchable thirst for understanding and knowledge.

    "Any man will go out of his way to pick up a silver dollar; but here are golden words, which the wisest men have uttered, yet we learn to read only as far as easy reading. "

    Picture
    Tweets by @hawaiiaspenalex

    Categories

    All
    Agriculture
    Architecture
    Art
    Business
    Community Management
    Culture
    Design
    Dystopia
    Energy
    Feminism
    Green Roof/facade
    Happiness
    Health
    Human Condition
    Light
    Living Architecture
    Meditation
    Natural Elements
    Nature
    PCOS
    Philosophy
    Tv Show
    Wellness
    Wind
    Work
    Zen

    Archives

    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Blog Posts
  • Book Nook
  • My professional site